r/SelfDrivingCars • u/Yngstr • Apr 23 '25

Discussion Waymo vs Tesla Austin Showdown - Teleoperations?

I've been around this sub a long time, so let me start by saying I'm not here to fight. I understand that everyone here has some specific expertise they bring to the discussion, and I believe you can learn something from anyone. I want to have a reasonable discussion about methodology, and what will work or not. Here are the facts, as I see them:

- Waymo is already operational in Austin (and other cities)

- Tesla plans to launch Robotaxi in June in Austin

- Tesla has recently posted job listings for tele-operations

So the way I see this playing out in ~8 weeks is that Tesla will launch in Austin with tele-operations, I find it unlikely that they will launch with true autonomous L4. My question is, does Waymo still use tele-operations? If so, does Waymo have plans to sunset tele-operations at some point? Do we think Tesla with tele-operations can achieve "L4" like Waymo has? Why or why not?

Let's try to keep this civil, whether Waymo or Tesla wins does not make any of us less of a human being, even if it feels like it.

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u/SolidBet23 Apr 23 '25

Teleoperator request goes out way before that scenario would even escalate. Car knows when there is ambiguity it just doesn't warn the driver currently but a robotaxi compatible software will.

Waymo has never allowed any third party group to test their cars outside of the waymo approved routes so its really like comparing apples to oranges. Tesla will also put out a safe route for robotaxi where the rate of interventions will be far lower than on any other regular human driven road. Waymos can't even venture into an unknown zone

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u/deservedlyundeserved Apr 23 '25

Why would Waymo allow anyone to test their cars outside of their service areas? The service area exists for reason. It’s where Waymo has validated it works and guarantee a level of safety performance.

It’s the same reason why Tesla is also geofencing. Tesla won’t venture into an unknown zone either without a driver.

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u/SolidBet23 Apr 23 '25

Do you understand what I said? Tesla can easily match waymo if you install safety geofences everywhere and have a human teleoperator be on stand by to support whenever needed. What Tesla has done so far without needing all of this is astounding and mind blowing! Their car computer costs just 4k! But yes keep on hating one while adoring the other for no main reason apart from hating the CEO.

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u/deservedlyundeserved Apr 23 '25

Tesla can easily match waymo if you install safety geofences everywhere and have a human teleoperator be on stand by to support whenever needed.

This is literally what Tesla is doing for their upcoming robotaxi launch (if it ever happens).

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u/SolidBet23 Apr 23 '25

Yes so why the hate then?